COMECC makes it easy to invest in your community

Give by Nov. 8 for a chance to win raffle prizes

By Bryan Goodchild and Ellie Castano

UMass Medical School Communications

11/4/2013 12:00:00 AM

Every year, thousands of UMass Medical School employees change the lives of members of their communities through donations—small and large—to the annual COMECC campaign, the only authorized charitable campaign for state employees. A contribution of just $5 pays for a meal, a book or a bottle of vitamins; a $10 contribution buys a shirt or school supplies; just $20 could mean a new pair of sneakers for a child or fresh haircuts for several homeless veterans.

The 2013 COMECC campaign runs Nov. 4 through Nov. 27.

UMMS is a leader among state agencies when it comes to the COMECC campaign. Last year, UMMS was the single largest source of donations among all state institutions, contributing 20 percent of the total amount raised statewide.

“As we work to invest in our community each and every day through the work of our hands and our scientists, we recognize that our community looks to us as a leader,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins. “Each and every one of us, through participation in COMECC, can exhibit leadership; can actually demonstrate that we care about our communities.”

COMECC offers more than 1,000 screened nonprofits to choose from, including local, regional, national and international agencies dedicated to education, health, human services, the environment and more. COMECC allows each donor to choose where their dollars will go.

“If you don’t have a charity in mind, please consider your local United Way, which coordinates charity with local communities and nonprofits across Massachusetts, or the UMass Memorial Foundation, which supports research and education at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care,” said James B. Leary, Esq., vice chancellor for community and government relations.

“The simplest way to donate is to complete the form provided by your department’s COMECC team leader,” said Leary. “You can also donate online through the COMECC website, which requires that you enter your Employee ID number; if you don’t know your Employee ID number, you can find it on your paystub at the HR Direct website.”

All employees who donate by close of business on Friday, Nov. 8 will be entered into a raffle. Prizes include one month of free parking in the employee garage (University campus), coupons for the MassBiologics, South Street and Sherman Center cafeterias, and UMMS sweatshirts.